the devil within

by max333

When Tuxedo Mask's past identity is revealed, he's ripped from his beloved arm's while injured, and kidnapped to the negaverse where Prince Endymion is born. Yet things are not as they seem to the majority on either. Wanting his beloved Moon by his side he makes his own agenda, but is he truly playing both sides of the field or is he really one over the other? Find out more inside.

2. one in the same & chambers of hell

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The devil within ch.2

Usagi POV

I felt exhausted. All over and around. My head hurts, pounding on all levels from what's happened and the situations all around me. My body is beginning to feel all the aches from the battles not just tonight but the ones that happened more recently too and I just feel emotionally exhausted. I slip out of my room where the girls continue to deliberate the situation getting nowhere near a solution and into my bathroom.

I had somehow gotten verbally pushed out of talking about the subjects in my own room so was easily able to slip out and towards the bathroom. I was never more thankful that now that I had my own bathroom to work with cause right now with how I felt, looked and my mood alone I couldn't deal with my family trying to pry into my life right now or deal with my brothers' antics at the moment.

I love my family to death and would destroy any enemy that threatened their safety, but I needed time to process what was going on right now. I needed time to myself to collect my thoughts and work my way through my own emotions as they were starting to feel like taking over my and I needed to adjust to what was going on and what to do next. There was just so much going on and things were colliding together.

They were just so raw and realizing now that the memories of my past life made things even more intense than usual as I shut the door behind me. I looked down and debated on locking it. I briefly saw it as pushing them away but thought better of it. I could never push them away, they were my family too, so I left it alone knowing that the girls were too busy talking in my room to even notice my absence.

Well, all except for Minako who saw me leave but said nothing. She merely gave me an expression that read that she understood I wasn't getting anywhere in trying to talk right now. At least not with the girls while things were still so fresh. I think she knew I needed to have a moment to collect myself and have a silent break from everyone and everything. I nearly felt like breaking down out there with them.

Not that what they were saying was wrong, but they weren't a hundred percent right in their words either. Rei was getting quick to shut down how I was feeling about matters and I needed to get this out but not with them in front of me, so I knew I needed to take my own moment to do so alone. I began to strip off my clothes, in automaton mode as I drop each piece into the hamper next to the sink.

Minako's garments were helpful in making me feel better, the grey garments now off as I touched the broach I had grabbed as I went in here nearby to release my transformation. The initial reason why Minako and the girls had to change me to begin with. Only I could unlock it…at least as far as we know. I wasn't about to find out if someone else could do it nor were the girls apparently…thankfully. I felt the power flow out and saw that my own clothes magically appeared on me.

I stripped them off to and looked at the garments that were now going into the hamper as well. I saw how untouched they were by what had happened this evening as if it didn't happen. As if each time I transformed never happened. There was a weird mentality to it sometimes. Like transforming and fighting monsters was a fevered dream. I gave a small huffing laugh that fell short as for some people it very well is, yet for us, it was reality.

One that we couldn't escape from and now knowing what we do didn't want to escape from. It was cringeworthy at times but at least we knew where we stood with our enemies. As for the transformations this bit provided us with the chance to avoid issues that would more than likely befall us in our everyday lives. Benefits of the transformation I guess, a way to protect our identities even from those we love.

Or at the very least give us less reasons to make up lies that could eventually tear families apart all in an effort to protect them. I turned and saw myself in the mirror. Some dirt and grim along with bruises that were already healing were there. I turned to view more angles of my face and saw the hardships from the past few days hitting me hard. I touched the sink and saw the minor dirt from my own hands smear on the white porcelain.

While I saw some dried-up tear tracks along my cheek's I also saw the young woman I was becoming reflecting back in the mirror. She was tired. She was emotionally done with the evening but not with what had to be done going forward after tonight. In fact, she wanted to go a few more rounds and kick Beryl's ass to the curb and take any loyal youma along with her. This thought alone made me feel more confident in what I wanted to do.

I saw it staring back at me in the mirror, like a reminder of the young woman that I was becoming. That's when I notice my hair. Sticking up from different ends considering all that I had been through this evening but still, I noticed the differences. I had though earlier I had spotted something off about it but ignored it for the most part as there were other things to think about and deal with.

Yet it was clear as day now and NOT part of my transformation as a senshi either. My hair was now appearing silvery blonde. As if I wasn't just myself anymore but now part of my past self to as I looked at it...touched it even. Feeling the silky smooth texture of the strands as I run it through my fingers and while I do admire the way it looks and feels, I can't get past how it makes me feel.

Am I becoming her now? Am I going to eventually get lost in whoever she is…was, now? Will I fade away and will she emerge now that this has happened? Was her awakening into my body now mean that she will be taking over? So many questions and the more differences that I notice the more questions I have. I now notice upon a closer inspection that even my eyes aren't their usual solid blue color anymore.

There are some minor silver specs in them now, that weren't there before. In fact, only I myself or maybe even my parents would probably notice...if they were close enough to spot the subtle differences. These however are also both minor physical changes that can be explained away, like growing up or something along those lines. My worries over what this more deeply affects hit me as I wonder if I'm going to at some point disappear and SHE will be what's left in my body, in my home...my life.

I mean I'm glad that we found her, despite the fact that she is ME, I am glad that that particular revelation is revealed. We spent so long looking for her that it was beginning to weigh on all of us on what would happen if we DIDN'T find her. I turn away from the image in the mirror, the young woman that seems to have matured me a bit in appearance from the young teen I had been still somewhat looking like to the full-on teenager that I've been waiting to become for a little while now.

I can even see that my breasts are a bit fuller than before. Something I can't deny I like as I was never fond of my health B's. It was an insecurity issue for me that I hide well. Now they looked more like natural C's. I felt more defined than before and less like a walking female flat board with no figure. Hell, beforehand I barely filled out my senshi fuku but now…now I definitely appeared differently and I was torn on how to feel about it.

I ran the water till it became hot. I stepped inside and enjoyed the hot spray as it was already helping to soothe my tight, aching muscles and giving me the feeling of allowing myself to release the rest of my muscles. It also gives me as I start to scrub the remanent of the night away, the release of the rest of the emotions that were bottled up from beforehand. Seeing someone I love more than I thought I did, kidnapped straight out of my arms.

Watching people I love, get hurt. Fighting a seemingly never-ending battle, a war really between good and evil and being one of the rare few that are able to fight in the war…and on top of it all I'm the princess that's supposed to beat all of them? I feel overwhelmed suddenly and my previous near-hysterical laugher cry outside is nothing compared to what the shower is now hiding for me as give in to massive sobs.

So much emotion pours out of me that I slid down the shower wall, giving up temporarily on washing myself just so that I can let this out. My knees hit the porcelain tub gently as I let it out for who knows how long, I can't keep track of time like that as I let the sobs pour out. I blow my nose out in the shower a few times before I feel the wracks that had briefly taken over my form, the shaking that rendered me unable to stand for a moment, leave my body.

I stand back up on slightly wobbling legs and stay under the spray as I finish washing my form, scrubbing it down. Feeling a sense of renewal come to me as I finish off and turn off the water having rinsed off by now. For a moment I feel okay, I grab a towel and slip on a part of clean flip flops to avoid getting water on the floor as I make my way to the sink once more. My reflection, while less disheveled looks now more apparent of the changes that have taken place.

The silver flecks in my eyes have me shutting them as I feel like breaking again. The question of if I'll disappear resurfaces to my mind's eye along with the other question's I still don't have an answer for. A few stray tears begin to come till a warming light hits me from inside. It envelopes me and makes me feel warm. A caress really. One that I know in my heart and my gut that I can trust. I hear the words…Usagi there is no taking over of me to you.

I gasp as I realize WHO it is. There is simply us merging together…I look in the mirror as I see the perfect blend of us together, not one taking over the other but a simple one as a whole. You are still Usagi, you will always be Usagi. There's no changing WHO you are. I can feel a tidal wave of relief hit me at feeling that she is right. It floods me as I nod accepting her words and knowing the truth of them as a whole.

Just as Mamoru is Endymion and Endymion is now Mamoru. We are two halves of the same whole, the same person. I am simply another part of you that's always been there, I'm just awake now and glad that we have a second chance at life…love. I can't help but both smile and be dismayed. Yeah, but Beryl has him now. I counter. Her next words however get me to thinking…don't be so sure.

Suddenly I feel more of a sense of renewal and hope. She's right, this is Mamoru, or rather Endymion we're talking about. Yes, he was injured but he's strong. She feels something that I know is deep within my own gut. He can still be reached I just need to reach back, and I can do that once I see him. I'm now also feeling confident I will be seeing him again, and something tells me soon too.

I look in the mirror as the tears are now dried up once more, and redness from crying is clearing up and I stand up straighter once more. Whatever feelings I had of still being too young for this fell away. Too many things are different now and as scary as this was, as overwhelming as I felt about it, I'm okay with this. I feel like I can face the challenges that I know we will be facing together, not just myself, but all the girls, Mamoru and Artemis.

I can feel as I get dressed once more, that not only as Serenity and I as one, but, that I need to rescue Mamoru. He's trapped in the Negaverse and needs to be freed. He needs to be rescued and we need to find a way to get to him and do that. I don't want him to be tortured for whatever I know they must be torturing him for. Dressed in my own night clothes I leave back out, hair combed out now as I greet my friends.

They seemed shocked that I was away, but cover nonetheless. Ami's the first to respond, "How are you feeling?"

I smile more confident than before, "Better." Before Rei or anyone else can start up I continue with, "We need to prepare." This gets their attention. "Beryl thinks she's won." I know better though.

"What makes you think that?" Rei asks, which is a logical question.

"Cause she has Mamoru. As far as she's concerned, he's her ace to get the silver crystal from me." Which I know will be the case.

Luna jumps in this time from her perch on my dresser. I presume to be at the right height to put her input to their discussion out here, "Then we need to minimize his contact with you."

I shake my head no right away to that. "That's not going to be necessary, if anything I need the most contact with him so I can save him." I tell them all as I disagree with Luna's 'suggestion'. I can tell this makes most everyone uneasy.

Luna's next words now sound like a definite order. One that I might have listened to months ago but now…now things are different. "Usagi, you need to think about the bigger picture now." Her words now are beginning to sound patronized to a degree and now I wonder if she always sounded like that and I didn't recognize it or she was doing it because it was regarding Mamoru, wither way I wasn't liking it.

"Mamoru is now a servant to Beryl, she will use him to get the crystal from you. You cannot be within too much contact lest he steals it."

I feel my renewed contact rise to the surface as I face her on my dresser. "I like the fact that it's ASSUMED that he's going to even be able to do that," I remark sarcastically. Upset that it's automatically thought to be a given to happen. I may love him but I would NEVER let an agent of the negaverse take the silver crystal.

It's hurtful that I'm being thought of so little right now. "Well considering your past history of 'letting him' get away with things..." Rei begins as I shot a glare at her,

"You mean with his life whenever you all decided to corral him like an enemy?" I shoot back at her.

"We're not assuming you'll give him the crystal BUT it doesn't mean that he wouldn't use your kindness towards him to his advantage." Ami tries.

I refuse to look towards Ami as I feel like if I do she'll see how upset I am that her placating the argument is essentially taking Rei's side of things.

"We need to focus on the bigger picture here." Rei's not completely wrong but is still wrong in smaller senses.

I turn my gaze to her, "There is no bigger picture." I can tell she disagrees already with my words but I hold firm on what I feel and what my gut tells me.

"I'm not going to let the love of my life die or being turned into an evil Queen's bitch cause she's feeling resentful that he picked me over her a thousand years ago." I can tell my crass language stunned everyone in the room as it goes silent for a moment. I use the opportunity to get my point across and drive it home, "Besides how is he now different from the innocents we've saved since the start of this?"

I begin as I take a small step forward, eyeing Luna now, "Especially when he was always helping US, helping ME, saving me despite your constant doubt on his motives and his allegiance? Even to the point of cornering him on occasion after he would help us or myself." This causes Luna to sputter at first in her response and I can't help but feel a smile begin to tug at my lips.

She finally gets her tongue back and defends her previous convictions against him, "We had reason to doubt him."

Before I can retort Rei jumps in, "She has a valid point Usagi."

I can't stop the eye roll that emerges, "Yes by all means the two people with the most trust issues ever agreed to keep someone who was helping us away because their natural instinct is to attack first and ask questions later." Both blanch at my words.

Before Rei can start to jump at me verbally Ami and Makoto jump in. "Listen it's been an intense evening and emotions are running high so let's just calm down and figure this out." Ami tries as Rei jumps back with, "Things wouldn't be getting this way if Usagi had ever utilized a smidgen of good judgment or decision making when it came to Tuxedo Mask and how he's for sure working for the other side now."

That gets me as I round on her, "This coming from the girl who believed she was 'dating' Mamoru..." putting 'dating' in quotations. "Who IS Tuxedo Mask and is now trapped in the Negaverse. So, you're saying to forgo him? Why? Cause he picked me over you?" I hit a raw nerve ending with her on that one as it's clear the reference I just made between her and the dark Queen we are all fighting against.

"Excuse me?!" She steps forward, upset as well only to be met with Makoto jumping between us both before things can get more physical. "Enough!" she says just loud enough to get our attention but low enough to NOT get my parent's attention. "There was no picking, by the way, seems more like ste…" my face begins to go root beat red as I know what she's about to say and the implications are far from the truth.

She knows it too as Mamoru and I BEFOREHAND were already friends and while we had a rocky start to it we were already close compared to Rei's 'insistent' dating bit for him. So on that note, she's definitely wrong. Yet I know that she's not going to willingly back down from me, as I'm still the simpy little Usagi being seen here. Only Makoto's warning glare at her makes her back down from finishing her sentence.

Deep down Rei knew that would be going too far. She knew that in the end, Mamoru had wanted to be with me. Long before we found out about our secret identities, he admitted to liking me and had even been dodging some of her calls. Something he admitted to me a short while before identities were exposed. I had almost felt bad for Rei at the time but in the end, I think she just got caught up in having something that she thought she was competing for.

She just didn't like being someone who lost out during a competition. She'll put up a good front for people if she lost something she was completing but became a sore loser about it in private.

"This isn't even about who Mamoru liked more this is about the fact that he's a true agent of the negaverse now." Luna puts in as I go to loudly and angry protest her continued accusations against him.

That's when Minako spoke up getting our attention, "Unless you want to alert Usagi's parents to what's going on you might want to lower your voices. And secondly, I think Usagi is right." Rei scoffs at this but lowers her voice as we all do. I especially do know that I should know better. It is after all my parents' house. The walls arent THAT thick. "Look I know you just joined up so I'm trying to NOT dismiss you here, but we've known Usagi longer than you, how could you think that she is she right?"

She may be putting true facts in her argument, but her words are still hurtful, and I can see it in Minako's eyes before she says in a calming manner, "Very true…" she admits at first before saying, "However being the Senshi of love I can feel the love in her heart for him. It's not something fleeting in the night…he's her other half. She will use that bond to get him back to our side. To save him." I'm glad to have her on my side in this.

It helps me to say my next words, "Exactly." I turn to the girls as I move away from Rei as I'm not trying to fight her on this but I will if I have to. "I know what I'm capable of doing and it would be nice to get the support I need rather than criticism of everyone telling me I'm in the wrong." I look to both Rei and Luna on those words as both stand stoically there for a moment as I continue on.

"I wasn't wrong about Tuxedo Mask and instead of being on the defense with him this whole incident might have been avoided and he probably wouldn't be in the negaverse." Right then and there I know I've gotten through to them as there might definitely have been a different outcome to things had he been trusted instead of treated as an enemy by all by myself. I knew he wasn't a threat; it was in my gut and in my heart to trust him...I just wished that they had listened to me this situation I feel would have gone differently.

Evil Endymion POV

I seriously already hate being in this hellhole. My agitation was clear as day but many thought it was just due to my wanting to kill Sailor Moon. That was the furthest thing from my mind as I hated the scent, the scenery, and the overall vibe of how this place was. It dripped with evil and reeked of death. I wanted out but I had to bide my time till I could leave for a reason that was 'accepted' by her.

That was one thing I had to notice in the last day since I'd been stuck in this chamber was that any youma that came within range of Beryl held a definite amount of fear in their eyes towards her. Some respect yes but more fear over what she could do. The few that didn't hold as much held higher ranks than normal youma. Case in point between the Doom and Gloom girls and Malachite, all held a reasonable amount of respect for her.

I suspected due to her ranking them as the girls were some of her best youma and ranked high enough from what I'd gathered to be next in line as generals if Malachite failed. The girls would wait patiently though till that time came. Right now, my priority became simple. Maintaining who I AM and knowing the truth of everything while not letting her lies and manipulations tangle themselves into my head.

Metallia I can feel is weaving her way through my form, creating in a sense an 'evil version' of me within myself. It's a complicated distinction but by protecting my memories and ensuring access to them I'm keeping who I am intact while at the same time enabling myself to be able to use the powers and nega-energy granted to me. This is also in part thanks to my memories recovering the fact that I have a golden crystal.

Much like Serenity's silver crystal, I have a golden one that I have access to. Or right now since I'm linked to evil, minor, temporary, limited access to. I keep that fact and knowledge hidden further so that not a trace of it can be found by either Beryl or Metallia. I can't take any risks in my own plans against them. The golden crystal itself recognizes what I'm doing, how I'm doing it, and knows what my plans are but is unable to link itself fully to me without the evil in me being wiped away clean.

Especially since I myself, at my core being is still good and doing what's right. I'm maintaining who I am while still managing to show the darkness that I'm evil. Not an easy image to portray especially since it requires that I let the evil in and manage to use it to my advantage. It's a little something that I recall the teachings of back when I was a young teen when the Terrian Kingdom was thriving.

They did teach the dark arts to those that wanted to learn and I did take a few lessons in it as I was the prince of earth. I even took a few extra lessons when I met Beryl as something in my gut told me it would be wise to learn more about what she might try to do. While it proved at that time to be useless as I had no idea what darkness she had been capable of right now it was coming in pretty handy as I was able to keep myself safe from her mental mind warps and lies about what I knew the truth to be.

I made a mental note to thank the dark arts teacher I had as his lessons were coming in handy now. Especially as it enabled me to keep both fronts on for both Beryl and Metallia. I needed to pass both of their tests if I wanted to succeed in my plans. This is also a good reason why I was able to keep the golden crystal hidden from them too. If either of them found out about it as Beryl didn't know of its existence back then, they would crush me to find it.

That was a thankful, well-kept secret that I had planned to only tell to Serenity. Only the closest members of the royal court knew about it as we wanted to keep the rest that wasn't as high ranking in the dark. I guess even back then my parents knew who really could and couldn't be trusted fully. Kami rest their souls. Thankfully my link to it, the small one that I'm able to keep tethered to me differs from Serenity's crystal.

If Serenity's crystal were to be tainted in any way evil could literally take control and wipe out the universe if it wanted to. It held that much power in it when used at full capacity. However, that usually required the crystal to make a sacrifice, being the bearer of it as it was linked to their life force. Yet evil is so desperate for its power they ALWAYS fail to see this as an actual thing that can happen and only focus on the power it holds.

Every great power comes with a great weakness. This is also why I keep the access secured and safe so that it can't be felt by either of them. I let her think my good half is suppressed and that evil has now reigned. It'll be the only way to avoid Metallia from enforcing more and trying to take full control of me. If she had any inkling that the golden crystal existed, she'd do anything she wanted to get to it.

I'm not even sure if Beryl would stop her pillaging of me or if she'd join in. Either way, I wasn't finding out. Plus, as I felt the nega-energy being pumped into me I made sure to filter my love for Usagi into it. In a sense, as I became Evil Endymion, he, in turn, felt the all-consuming love for Usagi, Serenity...that I did, essentially 'corrupting' the evil and making it more malleable to my will and able to go back to good more easily once the healing began.

I can now feel that my love for Usagi has filtered in throughout all of who I am. Not just the good side but the 'evil' as well. A piece of me that Metallia cannot control or hinder. That love I know will be what can save us and heal us in the end. The evil in me now taking hold infiltrates and feels all of what we are as one. It's taken hours, nearly a day really but I'm evil Endymion now and I feel my good half counter-part Mamoru in me as well.

His love for Usagi is as strong as mine is. Thus, making us both on the same side of what matters most to us. You do realize that once Usagi saves me you will disappear. Mamoru mentally counters, as if to prove that I am NOT him. As we are one in the same just one with nega-energy and one without but still both of the same mind, heart, and soul I counter...that bridge will be crossed once it hits.

Right now though I need to see her. I miss her. Mamoru I can feel agrees with me and seconds later we both feel the weight of the nega-energy being released from us. I open my eyes as I look around and slowly sit up in the chamber. My body aches from the uncomfortableness of it but I figure with a few good stretches I can wring most of it out. I watch as Beryl saunters over towards me.

It takes every ounce of control within me NOT to snap her neck on the spot once she approaches me. Her appearance is that of a snake that's ready to strike if I don't give her the responses she looking for so I have to tread carefully. I'm still too weak from the events that have taken place to take her on right now. I can feel the ache in me from the injuries sustained and I know I'm not at full strength yet.

I'm stronger than before yes but I need to still be stronger. Thankfully even my need to kill the bitch knows this. I'm able to force my wrath back down so we can give her a proper death later on. I look back to her and keep my face blank of emotions despite what I'm feeling at the ones that are lacking on her face. Pure satisfaction at having me, mixed with lack of remorse or care for her actions done to me or others.

I had taken a few courses in university, electives really as I did them during my last year of high school, as they were psychology courses. Beryl's behaviors mixed with her body language gave me the concept that she's a mix of messed up ranging from a load of psychopath tendencies to, narcissistic behavior. Beryl was all of that in a nut shell. So I knew I had to tread carefully, "Now the world shall be mine, especially now that I have its prince as mine." I grit my teeth at her words as she got within range of me.

I saw the lustful expression on her face as if she was looking at her gift on Christmas day and couldn't wait till she was alone to unwrap it. I internally shuddered at the thought, not wanting to give my disgust her obvious leering away. This was also the same woman that refused to let go of her ideals of us together when there never even was an US to begin with. She manipulated enough people to take down the Terrian Kingdom and convinced even more people to commit mass murder.

All with a smile on her face and a gleam of pride in her eyes at the destruction she had caused, with no remorse nor any guilt for her actions. Had we been back in the time of the Terrian kingdom her death would be nothing short of spectacular as well as her never-ending suffering for what she had caused. I would make certain to enforce at least some of that suffering when the time came.

Till then even as the anger and hatred for her were burning a hole so badly in my gut and heart at what she did that I felt like I was about to cause heart burn, I knew that when the time came for her death happened it was going to be a lot more suffering than anything I would deliver here today, now. Even the evilest parts of me wanted to murder her in cold blood for the losses suffered because of her.

I can feel an internal debate begin to form of giving in and killing her in the here and now, but seeing the dozens of guard youma and knowing their blind faithful devotion to her I knew better than to act on it. My recovering body was a bleak reminder that I needed to finish that first then get more powerful and stronger...then... "Been too long," I utter as she clearly mistakes the words for a different meaning.

Clearly a mean pleasing meaning to. That's when the lies begin, "Yes you were injured from a battle with those pesky senshi." I could almost hear the near pout in her tone as I resisted the urge to lift a brow up in amusement at her acting, "Soon you'll be well enough to kill them all and bring that moon brats crystal to me." then I tense up slightly at the rest but its thankfully seen as agreement by her.

I state with conviction, "The moon brat is mine." which makes her smile wider. Showing off a row of pearl white teeth that when in full show begin to look more razor-sharp than like that of a regular human. "Yes as much as I'd love to kill her..." I could see her head entertaining the idea of it before something else clicked into place and it clicked in place for me to at the same time but for different reasons.

She wanted Usagi to suffer, she wanted Serenity to suffer for being picked over herself. It didn't matter to her that she and I weren't ever a thing, the fact of the matter was I picked Serenity and she couldn't see past me to be able to find her own happiness. This 'me killing Serenity' was really to make Serenity, my Usagi suffer for getting me. What better way to make her suffer than at the hands of the man she loves the most?

"You should be the one to do it...far more satisfying than me." Her words only confirmed what I already knew about her intentions to make my beloved suffer. That's when the internal part of me...Mamoru, saw that I was going to be using my position in power here to protect Usagi making him or rather the other half of myself feel better about the situation we were stuck in for the time being.

It was only after I had managed to convince her of where my 'loyalties' lay that I was given access to my own bedroom down another hallway towards another corridor. The youma left me, bowing in their leave as I shut the door and marveled at the creep factor that was both choking me with its design and yet gave me a slight pause of admiration. Whoever modeled this room did so to appear more to royal tastes.

Mine did not reflect these despite my previous upbringing, I was used to my place and already missed my own home greatly. Never thought I'd miss being in as what Usagi would probably call drab and boring but it was at least mine. Something that I got on my own and took pride in getting. Much like my sports car and motorcycle. Both were one and the same something I enjoyed having as they were mine.

That's when once I secure the door, I feel Mamoru's presence once more. This time I decide to converse with him now that I checked and made sure I was alone in every sense of the word. I know who you are and I know what you want, and as long as you work with me we can both get what we want. I tell him, a mental warning not to push boundaries with me. It's bad enough that I had Metallia and Beryl working to warp my mind I didn't need Mamoru trying to mess things up from the inside in some variation of trying to gain control.

If he did so it might trigger a response that we were both unable to avoid from Metallia. I had to get in front of what he was intending to do. What is it that you want? He asks me. Curious now as I respond knowing that he's not strong enough to act anything out right now but also knowing that the stronger I get the stronger we both get...so when I pass by the mirror I see the reflection back in it.

I've clearly been through hell and look the part. Bloodied up, stained with kami knows what from fighting. I can feel the dark aura around me. I tell him, "It's simple really, you want a peaceful loving life with Usagi or Sailor Moon, 'our' moon princess, I to want the same thing, only one minor difference." I can practically see him arching a rhetorical yet curious brow at the 'what I want' part of this.

Then he asks me back...and what minor difference is that? I smile and go to speak when I hear noises outside. I know it's difficult to hear anything past the door, which is why I'm not overly worried, but nevertheless, I use my new powers to put a cloaking sound monitor on it so I can speak freely.

"To rule the world as we were meant to, with Usagi by our side," I tell him without pause in my words.

I can feel his unease about this as I rummage around the room, disrobing in the process before going into the shower I have and washing up. I check the injured area to find that it's gone. As if it never happened. Benefits of the dark kingdom I guess. Or of my accelerated healing perhaps either way it's gone. As I hear him trying to figure things out mentally, I'm feeling slightly frustrated by his overthinking the matter.

So I tell him…"There's nothing to worry about, I fully intend to protect our beloved." This gets his attention deep within the recesses of my...well his head. "Thanks to your memories I know exactly what I need to do and how to do it." He again seems weary of it so I elaborate on the matter. We just need to keep her safe and bid our time till I'm strong enough to make a permanent move against Beryl.

A move that I need to make sure is calculated and will not be needed to be repeated. I might only get one shot at this. She's powerful yes but not as strong as she'd like you to believe. This makes Mamoru ask me...what do you mean?

I respond thusly... "She grants Metallia the energy she's stolen from innocents to fuel her enough to break out of her cage, however, Beryl is a pawn in Metallia's schemes."

Something that Beryl and others have failed to see the side of. I fully believe that once Metallia is free to do as she pleases Beryl will be cast away as just another pawn to the bidding. A useful one that was granted what she 'wished for' in exchange for her services but I truly believe in the end that once Beryl proves to be of no more use she will be gone. Metallia in this little endeavor is the true threat that even Beryl is failing to see.

It took me many a conflict with Beryl in the past and seeing her in action now, she has what she wants but she still serves a higher power. The energy she gathers isn't for her, it's for who she services and once Metallia is released she'll have no more use for a pawn. Beryl will have outlived her usefulness and I plan to kill her before that happens. Metallia's the real actual threat and the one that I need to be strong enough to help beat.

I can sense Mamoru on the inside churning in his thoughts as he realizes things about me, or rather us, that he didn't quite see before. "I'm betting you thought by sending your love of Usagi through to me that I'd be 'corrupted' and not be fully evil." I can tell Mamoru is stewing a bit. "Relax…," I tell him…or rather myself. "Usagi is our love, she's our everything and we will fight to keep her safe and alive."

He stews further as I laugh a bit at him. "Remember, my thoughts are yours and visa versa. Beryl wanted to corrupt me and make me her little bitch. You merely wanted and were able to show me the truth. So if anything I'm the one corrupting you as I don't plan on going anywhere."

I can tell this startles Mamoru. Once more I can feel his trepidation begin to rise up. "Relax prince, we are one and the same, I'm just the more proactive deadlier side. The one that stays hidden till the time comes when I'm needed. I'm not something Metallia created inside of you. Everyone has a good and bad side, I'm yours just infused with nega-energy and I'll use that to take back what's ours and get our girls too." I can tell he's still unnerved by it but seems more at ease as he senses that I'm telling the truth.

What next then? He asks. I look around our room as I begin to focus mentally.

"I want us to start training our minds to become stronger, sharper, more powerful so we can beat Metallia and kill Beryl when the time comes for it." He agrees and joins me in becoming stronger as I focus my powers and begin to practice and do mental exercises. The sooner I do this, the sooner I get stronger is the sooner I can take my justice for my family and bring the Terrain kingdom back to its former glory.